Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), with effect from August 18, 2026.

The letter of appointment was formally handed over to Air Vice Marshal De Costa by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe at Air Force Headquarters. The Commander also conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff.

Air Vice Marshal De Costa joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on August 17, 1993, as an Officer Cadet of the 26th Intake and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Administrative Branch on April 17, 1995.

During his career, he has held several senior appointments, including Staff Officer Administration to three Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Deputy Provost Marshal and Acting Director Provost at Air Force Headquarters. 

He also served as Senior Directing Staff (Air Force) at the National Defence College of Sri Lanka and as Military Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Defence.

Beyond his military career, Air Vice Marshal De Costa has represented the SLAF Men’s Volleyball Team, which won the National “A” Division Volleyball Championship and finished runners-up at the National Super League Volleyball Championship. 

He currently serves as President of the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Committee of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).